VI
My love is lovelier than the sprays
Of eglantine above clear waters,
Or whitest lilies that upraise
Their heads in midst of moated waters.
My love is lovelier than the sprays
Of eglantine above clear waters,
Or whitest lilies that upraise
Their heads in midst of moated waters.
Ezra-Pound-Provenca-English
With slow reluctant feet and weary eyes Kore And eyelids heavy with the coming sleep,
With small breasts lifted up in stress of sighs,
She passed as shadows pass amid the sheep
While the earth dreamed and only I was ware Of that faint fragrance blown from her soft hair.
The land lay steeped in peace of silent dreams, There was no sound amid the sacred boughs Nor any mournful music in her streams,
Only I saw the shadow on her brows,
Only I knew her for the Yearly Slain
And wept, and weep until she come again.
CANZON: THE SPEAR
[This fashion of stanza is used by Jaufre Rudel in the song "D'un amordelonh. " Themeasureistobesungratherthanspoken. ]
IS the clear light of love I praise
That steadfast gloweth o'er deep waters,
A clarity that gleams always.
Though man's soul pass through troubled waters, Strange ways tp him are opened.
To shore the beaten ship is sped
If only love of light give aid.
ii
That fair far spear of light now lays Its long gold shaft upon the waters. Ah ! might I pass upon its rays
To where it gleams beyond the waters, 67
? Canzon: Spear
Or might my troubled heart be fed UpOn the frail clear light there shed>
Then were my pain at last allay'd.
ni
Although the clouded storm dismays Many a heart upon these waters, The thought of that far golden blaze Giveth me heart upon the waters, Thinking thereof my bark is led
To port wherein no storm I dread; No tempest maketh me afraid.
IV
Yet when within my heart I gaze
Upon my fair beyond the waters, Meseems my soul within me prays
To pass straightway beyond the waters. Though I be alway banished
From ways and woods that she doth tread, One thing there is that doth not fade,
Deep in my heart that spear-print stays, That wound I gat beyond the waters,
Deeper with passage of the days
That pass as swift and bitter waters, While a dull fire within my head Moveth itself if word be said
Which hath concern with that far maid.
68
?
VI
My love is lovelier than the sprays
Of eglantine above clear waters,
Or whitest lilies that upraise
Their heads in midst of moated waters.
No poppy in the May-glad mead Would match her quivering lips' red If 'gainst her lips it should be laid.
VII
The light within her eyes, which slays Base thoughts and stilleth troubled waters,
Is like the gold where sunlight plays Upon the still overshadowed waters.
When anger is there mingled
There comes a keener gleam instead,
Like flame that burns beneath thin jade.
vni
Know by the words here mingled
What love hath made my heart his stead, Glowing like flame beneath thin jade.
CANZON
TO BE SUNG BENEATH A WINDOW
I
HEART mine, art mine, whose embraces Clasp but wind that past thee bloweth?
E'en this air so subtly gloweth, Guerdoned by thy sun-gold traces
Canzon: spear
? Canzon That my heart is half afraid
For the fragrance on him laid; Even so love's might amazes !
Man's love follows many faces,
My love only one face knoweth;
Towards thee only my love floweth,
And outstrips the swift stream's paces. Were this love well here displayed,
As flame flameth 'neath thin jade
Love should glow through these my phrases.
HI
Though I Ve roamed through many places, None there is that my heart troweth
Fair as that wherein fair groweth
One whose land here interlaces
Tuneful words, that I Ve essayed. Let this tune be gently played Which my voice herward upraises.
IV
If my praise her grace effaces,
Then 't is not my heart that showeth, But the skilless tongue that soweth Words unworthy of her graces. Tongue, that hath me so betrayed, Were my heart but here displayed, Then were sung her fitting praises.
NOTE. The form and measure are those of Piere Vidal's " Ab ValentirvasmeVaire" Thesongisfitonlytobesung,and is not to be spoken.
With small breasts lifted up in stress of sighs,
She passed as shadows pass amid the sheep
While the earth dreamed and only I was ware Of that faint fragrance blown from her soft hair.
The land lay steeped in peace of silent dreams, There was no sound amid the sacred boughs Nor any mournful music in her streams,
Only I saw the shadow on her brows,
Only I knew her for the Yearly Slain
And wept, and weep until she come again.
CANZON: THE SPEAR
[This fashion of stanza is used by Jaufre Rudel in the song "D'un amordelonh. " Themeasureistobesungratherthanspoken. ]
IS the clear light of love I praise
That steadfast gloweth o'er deep waters,
A clarity that gleams always.
Though man's soul pass through troubled waters, Strange ways tp him are opened.
To shore the beaten ship is sped
If only love of light give aid.
ii
That fair far spear of light now lays Its long gold shaft upon the waters. Ah ! might I pass upon its rays
To where it gleams beyond the waters, 67
? Canzon: Spear
Or might my troubled heart be fed UpOn the frail clear light there shed>
Then were my pain at last allay'd.
ni
Although the clouded storm dismays Many a heart upon these waters, The thought of that far golden blaze Giveth me heart upon the waters, Thinking thereof my bark is led
To port wherein no storm I dread; No tempest maketh me afraid.
IV
Yet when within my heart I gaze
Upon my fair beyond the waters, Meseems my soul within me prays
To pass straightway beyond the waters. Though I be alway banished
From ways and woods that she doth tread, One thing there is that doth not fade,
Deep in my heart that spear-print stays, That wound I gat beyond the waters,
Deeper with passage of the days
That pass as swift and bitter waters, While a dull fire within my head Moveth itself if word be said
Which hath concern with that far maid.
68
?
VI
My love is lovelier than the sprays
Of eglantine above clear waters,
Or whitest lilies that upraise
Their heads in midst of moated waters.
No poppy in the May-glad mead Would match her quivering lips' red If 'gainst her lips it should be laid.
VII
The light within her eyes, which slays Base thoughts and stilleth troubled waters,
Is like the gold where sunlight plays Upon the still overshadowed waters.
When anger is there mingled
There comes a keener gleam instead,
Like flame that burns beneath thin jade.
vni
Know by the words here mingled
What love hath made my heart his stead, Glowing like flame beneath thin jade.
CANZON
TO BE SUNG BENEATH A WINDOW
I
HEART mine, art mine, whose embraces Clasp but wind that past thee bloweth?
E'en this air so subtly gloweth, Guerdoned by thy sun-gold traces
Canzon: spear
? Canzon That my heart is half afraid
For the fragrance on him laid; Even so love's might amazes !
Man's love follows many faces,
My love only one face knoweth;
Towards thee only my love floweth,
And outstrips the swift stream's paces. Were this love well here displayed,
As flame flameth 'neath thin jade
Love should glow through these my phrases.
HI
Though I Ve roamed through many places, None there is that my heart troweth
Fair as that wherein fair groweth
One whose land here interlaces
Tuneful words, that I Ve essayed. Let this tune be gently played Which my voice herward upraises.
IV
If my praise her grace effaces,
Then 't is not my heart that showeth, But the skilless tongue that soweth Words unworthy of her graces. Tongue, that hath me so betrayed, Were my heart but here displayed, Then were sung her fitting praises.
NOTE. The form and measure are those of Piere Vidal's " Ab ValentirvasmeVaire" Thesongisfitonlytobesung,and is not to be spoken.
